Caston Young Benefit Concert for ODMH

Caston Young is a dynamic 15-year-old freshman from JAH High School in Edenton, NC and a talented Nashville recording artist!

On May 5th, 2012, Caston will host a benefit concert for the Open Door Mercy Home. All of the proceeds will go to helping the children in the home. She will also be releasing her brand new, Nashville-recorded single. The first 150 people in the door will get a free copy of the single, the next 50 will get a free digital download card.

There will be a live performance by Caston with an acoustic band. Reagan Rippy (founder/coordinator of ODMH) will also be speaking and the event will be catered. Please join us for this event to help the Open Door Mercy Home!

Where: American Legion • Edenton, NC
When: May 5th, 2012 at 7:00 pm
Ticket Price: $12.00 (Additional donations welcome)

Tickets Available:
• Norman Young Tire Center (252)-338-3490
• Open Door Church Welcome Center
• The Whole Sale Fence Outlet (252)-337-4215

Lions Club Presentation

Two students from John A. Holmes High School, Blake Ferrell and Sarah Daniels, recently spoke to the members of the Lions Club on behalf of Open Door Mercy Home. Blake and Sarah have both been very active in their efforts to help the mercy home. Great job!

Invest in Mercy: T-Shirt Fundraiser

T-shirts are on sale for $15. Wear a shirt for a good cause and help spread the word about the children of Open Door Mercy Home! All proceeds of shirt sales will be used for the care of the children of ODMH. Call or email Reagan to purchase a shirt.

January & February 2012 Updates

January

Made possible by a generous donation from an ODMH supporter, fourteen identified children of the mercy home will receive additional medical screening for blood, asthma, and vision.
The letter writing campaign continued. ODMH received encouragement from a number of celebrities and philanthropists.
The 2012 mission team met and discussed the next steps in preparing for July’s trip back to India.

February

The month of February was met with tremendous success. After only receiving one sponsorship in January, February boasted eight new sponsorships from numerous individuals and one sorority! Only two children remain unsponsored!
ODMH staff presented at two local churches: New Bethal Baptist and Center Hill Baptist. New Bethal Baptist offered to plan and sponsor a charity concert in May. Proceeds and/or love offering will be used in support of ODMH.
The letter writing campaign continued and received numerous encouraging responses.
Initial medical tests indicate that no child has tested positive for HIV! Praise God for his abundant mercy! ODMH will seek a second opinion for confirmation.

The 2012 mission team set-up a “hot house” at the annual Polar Plunge event in Edenton. Earlier in the month, the mission team took part in a gold and silver drive. The proceeds of both events will be used to support the mission team’s trip in July.
"Hot House" at The 2012 Polar Plunge - Edenton, NC

ODMH Children Receive New Bedding

Thanks to the loving support of our sponsors and donors, all of the ODMH children have received new cotton bedding, blankets and pillow covers.

November & December 2011 Updates

November

Six boys found sponsorship in the month of November!!!
By the end of November only eleven children still lacked sponsorship.
While the letter writing campaign has not yielded any financial donations (as of yet), in the month of November ODMH received multiple letters of encouragement from organizations like: Angel House, The Ramsey Foundation, Joyce Meyer Ministries, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, and the March of Dimes.
AP Students scheduled and planned numerous presentations to take place in the month of December with the goal of locating sponsors for the remaining 11 boys before Christmas.

December

12/6 – Presentation was delivered to the American Legion in hopes of support or sponsorship. (No initial response. A follow-up will likely be requested.)
12/12 – Presentation was delivered to the Ryland Ruritans in hopes of support or sponsorship. (Ruritans issued a check for $250 on the spot! The support will be used to sponsor one child for six months.)
12/15 – Presentation was delivered to the Knights of Columbus in hopes of support or sponsorship. (No initial response. A follow-up will likely be requested.)
12/19 – Presentation was delivered to the Baptist Association in hopes of support or sponsorship. (Students were directed to write an article for the newsletter in hopes of setting up times to speak to various congregations. A follow-up will likely be requested.)
12/20 – Presentation was delivered to the Kiwanis Club in hopes of support or sponsorship. (No initial response. A follow-up will likely be requested.)

While the letter writing campaign has not yielded any financial donations (as of yet), in the month of December ODMH received multiple letters of encouragement from individuals and organizations like: MAP International, Lucas Films, Show Hope, The Najim Family Foundation, billionaire Kenneth G. Langone, and the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association.
The Laptop Drive (to connect the orphans to the internet and offer communication with sponsors) began on Christmas Day. The goal for the drive is to acquire at least twelve working laptops to be taken by the mission team in July. ODMH will inquire more as to the set-up and monthly costs of connecting each of the laptops to the internet.

ODMH Children Preparing for Christmas

The children have received their new coats. They are very happy and excited about Christmas coming.

September & October 2011 Updates

September 2011

The ODMH staff started a website devoted to telling the story of Open Door Mercy Home. While the site was not spectacular, it was functional. However, God spoke to the heart of a professional graphic designer in Birmingham, Alabama. Through her dedicated work, the improved website came to fruition.
ODMH staff composed multiple videos to be used on the site as well as future presentations.
Most of the girls’ testimonies were added to the site along with pictures.
Junior and Senior AP English students and John A. Holmes High School heard the story of the orphans and were eager to help. The students agreed to begin a letter writing campaign.
Multiple presentations were scheduled for the month of October.
Albemarle Agricultural Services, based in Edenton, NC, volunteered to fund the (500) stamps and envelopes ($250.00) to be used by the students.

October 2011

ODMH staff spoke to a number of churches and organizations including but not limited to: Open Door Church (main services as well as Bible study), Edenton Baptist Church Youth Group, John A. Holmes chapter of Key Club, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, and John A. Holmes Guitar Club.
Several of the AP students have spoken with numerous churches and relatives on behalf of ODMH.
A letter writing campaign designed to reach 500 of America’s celebrities and philanthropists started at the beginning of the month. The campaign is designed to last through February of 2012.
ODMH staff scheduled several upcoming presentations and continues to look for more opportunities to share testimony.
ODMH staff added the website to a variety of online non-profit databases with the intent to get the word out about the orphanage and its mission.
The boys’ testimonies were added to the website. In addition, ODMH staff also contributed personal testimonies the site.
As of mid-October all girls received sponsorship. The boys’ sponsorships will be the next objective.
Yesterday’s, Today’s, and Tomorrow’s, an antique business based in Birmingham, AL, gave a generous donation ($250.00) to Open Door Mercy Home.
Cecil Soil Magazine, a publication based in Rising Sun, MD, has agreed to run a full length article on Open Door Mercy Home in the November/December issue.

Mission Trip to Eluru: August 2011

Through God’s abundant grace, here’s just a few of the many goals we were able to accomplish on this trip:

Initial costs for upstart and renovation of Open Door Mercy Home was funded by American church (Open Door Church) based in North Carolina.
As many as twenty candidates are to be considered. Only ten or eleven girls will be accepted into the orphanage, as space permits. Need basis will take precedence on selection process.
Sponsors are needed for each of the girls. Sponsorship is $45 per month and includes all expenses. Each sponsor will have ongoing contact with the sponsored orphan. Updates on each child’s grades, health, and correspondence will be provided frequently to sponsors. Letters from the children will also be featured here on our news/updates page.
Each girl will be fitted for school uniforms by a professional tailor.
The boy’s orphanage (within the same compound) is also looking to add five more boys to the sixteen that are already housed at the mission. Sponsors will be needed for these boys as well. Information and pictures will be provided as new candidates are determined.
Boys’ uniforms tailored and winter coats provided.
Girls’ given coats and book bags for school. School uniforms are currently being tailored.